Writing Strong Research Questions 

A research question is a crucial element that precisely outlines the focus of your research. It serves as a guiding light for your research paper, dissertation, or thesis. To ensure the effectiveness of your research question, it should possess the following qualities:

• Focused: It should concentrate on a single, well-defined problem or issue.

• Researchable: It should be answerable through primary and/or secondary sources.

• Feasible: It should be realistic to address within the given timeframe and practical limitations.

• Specific: It should be narrow enough for a thorough and comprehensive answer.

• Complex: It should have enough depth to be developed and explored throughout a paper or thesis.

• Relevant: It should be pertinent to your field of study and/or have broader societal implications.

In a research paper or academic essay, you typically craft a research question guiding your investigation. The answer to this question becomes your thesis statement—the central claim or position your paper aims to support.

However, you may need to formulate multiple research questions or problem statements for a thesis or dissertation. Nonetheless, these questions should be interconnected and centered around a primary research problem.

How to write a research question

To create a compelling research question, you can adhere to the following steps:

• Select a topic that piques your interest and aligns with your research goals.
• Conduct initial research to familiarize yourself with the current state of knowledge in the chosen field.
• Refine your focus by identifying a specific niche within the broader topic.
• Pinpoint the research problem that your study will tackle.

The structure of your research question will vary depending on your research objectives. The table below illustrates how you can shape your questions for different research purposes.

Research Objectives	Research Question Formulations
Describing a phenomenon or situation	What are the characteristics of…? How does… occur? What is the process of…? How does… work?
Evaluating the effectiveness or impact of something	To what extent does… affect…? What is the impact of… on…? How effective is… in achieving…? What are the consequences of…?
Comparing two or more things	How does… differ from…? What are the similarities and differences between… and…? Which is more effective, … or …? How do… and… compare in terms of…?
Establishing a causal relationship	What is the effect of… on…? To what extent does… cause…? What are the causes of…? How does… influence…?
Exploring trends or patterns	What are the trends in…? How has… changed over time? What patterns can be observed in…? What factors contribute to the development of…?
Generating solutions to a problem	What strategies can be used to address…? How can… be improved? What interventions are effective in solving…? What are the best practices for dealing with…?

Using your research problem to develop your research question

Once you have identified your research problem, you can use it as a foundation to construct your research question. The research question should directly address the problem and guide your research efforts.

Example Research Problem	Example Research Question(s)
The impact of social media on adolescent mental health	1. How does the use of social media platforms affect the mental well-being of adolescents aged 13-18? 2. What are the most significant factors contributing to the negative mental health outcomes associated with social media use among teenagers? 3. To what extent can parental involvement and monitoring mitigate the adverse effects of social media on adolescent mental health?
The effectiveness of remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic	1. How effective has remote learning been in achieving educational outcomes compared to traditional in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic? 2. What are the main challenges faced by students and educators in adapting to remote learning environments? 3. How have socioeconomic disparities affected students’ access to and success in remote learning during the pandemic?
The role of renewable energy in combating climate change	1. To what extent can the adoption of renewable energy sources reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change? 2. What are the main barriers hindering the widespread implementation of renewable energy technologies? 3. How can government policies and incentives effectively promote the transition to renewable energy systems?
The influence of cultural diversity on team performance in the workplace	1. How does cultural diversity within teams impact overall team performance and productivity in the workplace? 2. What are the key challenges and benefits of managing culturally diverse teams? 3. What strategies can organizations implement to foster effective communication and collaboration among culturally diverse team members?

What makes a strong research question?

A strong research question forms the backbone of a successful research project. It should possess several key characteristics to ensure your research is focused, feasible, and meaningful. Here are the essential qualities of a well-crafted research question:

Focused and researchable

A strong research question should be centered on a specific problem or issue within your field of study.  

Criteria	Explanation
Focused on a single topic	The research question should be centered on a specific problem, issue, or phenomenon within your field of study. It should have a clear and narrow focus, avoiding overly broad or multifaceted topics that may lead to a superficial or fragmented analysis.
Answerable using credible sources	The research question should be answerable through empirical research, using reliable and credible primary and/or secondary sources. Collecting and analyzing relevant data or evidence to address the question effectively should be possible.
Not based on value judgments	The research question should be objective and unbiased, seeking to explore and understand the topic rather than making subjective value judgments. It should not be phrased in a way that presupposes a particular stance or opinion on the issue.

Feasible and specific

The research question should be realistically answerable within the given timeframe and available resources. 

Criteria	Explanation
Can be answered within practical constraints	The research question should be realistically answerable within the given timeframe, available resources, and practical limitations of the research project. It should not be overly ambitious or require extensive data collection or analysis that exceeds the scope of the study.
Provides a clear direction for research	The research question should be specific enough to guide the research process, providing a clear direction for data collection, analysis, and interpretation. It should help narrow down the focus of the study and ensure that the research efforts are targeted and purposeful.
Avoids vague or overly broad language	The research question should be phrased using precise and specific language, avoiding vague or overly broad terms that may lead to ambiguity or confusion. It should clearly define the key concepts, variables, or phenomena being investigated.

Complex and arguable

A strong research question should have depth and complexity, requiring thoroughly examining the topic. 

Criteria	Explanation
Requires in-depth analysis and interpretation	The research question should encourage a thorough and rigorous examination of the topic, requiring critical thinking, analysis, and interpretation of data or evidence. It should not be answerable with a simple yes/no or factual response.
Allows for multiple perspectives or viewpoints	The research question should be open to different perspectives, interpretations, or arguments. It should allow for a nuanced topic exploration, considering various viewpoints and potential counterarguments.
Encourages discussion and debate	The research question should stimulate intellectual curiosity and encourage further discussion and debate within the academic community. It should contribute to the ongoing scholarly dialogue and invite future research and inquiry.

Relevant and original

The research question should be relevant to your field of study and contribute to the existing body of knowledge. 

Criteria	Explanation
Addresses a gap in existing knowledge	The research question should focus on an area that has yet to be overlooked, understudied or requires further investigation within the existing body of research. It should fill a gap in the current understanding of the topic.
Contributes to the field of study	The research question should be relevant and significant to the broader field of study, addressing important issues, challenges, or trends within the discipline. It should potentially make a meaningful contribution to the existing knowledge base.
Offers a fresh perspective or approach	The research question should bring a new or innovative perspective, challenge conventional wisdom, explore novel connections, or apply interdisciplinary approaches. It should offer original insights or solutions to the research problem.

Using sub-questions to strengthen your main research question

In many cases, your main research question may be too complex to be answered in a single, straightforward manner. This is where sub-questions come into play. Sub-questions allow you to break down your main question into smaller, more manageable components, enabling you to address your research problem step by step.

Well-crafted sub-questions should possess the following characteristics:

• They should be less complex and more focused than the main research question.
• Each sub-question should concentrate on a specific aspect or type of research.
• The sub-questions should be organized in a logical sequence that builds towards answering the main question.

To illustrate, here are some examples of descriptive and framing sub-questions:

• Descriptive: What are the current trends in consumer behavior regarding online shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic? 
• Framing: How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the adoption and growth of e-commerce across different demographic groups?
• Descriptive: Which social media platforms are most frequently used by millennials for news consumption? 
• Framing: How has the rise of social media as a news source affected how millennials engage with and perceive current events?
• Descriptive: What are the most common challenges small businesses face in the tourism industry during economic recessions? 
• Framing: How can small businesses in the tourism industry adapt their strategies to build resilience and survive economic downturns?

Sub-questions are not always necessary. They should only be included if their answers are essential to addressing your main research question. If your main question is straightforward and self-contained, proceeding without sub-questions is acceptable.  

However,  restrict the number of sub-questions to a maximum of four or five. If you need more than this, it could suggest that your main research question lacks sufficient specificity. In such cases, revisiting your problem statement and refining your main question is recommended to ensure it is more focused and targeted.

Research questions quiz

Test your understanding of research questions by answering the following questions. Choose the most appropriate answer for each question.

1. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good research question? 

a) Focused on a single problem or issue 

b) Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources

c) Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints 

d) Broad enough to cover multiple aspects of a topic

2. What is the purpose of a research question in a research paper or academic essay?

a) To provide background information on the topic 

b) To guide the research process and form the thesis statement 

c) To summarize the main findings of the study 

d) To describe the research methodology

3. When might multiple research questions be necessary for a research project? 

a) In a small-scale study with a narrow focus 

b) In a research paper with a word count limit 

c) In a larger project such as a thesis or dissertation 

d) In a study with a short timeframe

4. Which of the following is an example of a descriptive research question? 

a) What are the causes of climate change? 

b) How effective are current policies in reducing carbon emissions? 

c) What are the characteristics of successful renewable energy projects? 

d) How can we mitigate the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities?

5. What should you do if you need more than 4 or 5 sub-questions to answer your main research question? 

a) Proceed with using all the sub-questions 

b) Combine some of the sub-questions to reduce their number 

c) Revisit your problem statement and refine your main research question 

d) Remove the sub-questions altogether

6. True or False: Sub-questions are mandatory for every research project. 

a) True 

b) False

7. What is the recommended maximum number of sub-questions for a research question?

a) 2-3 

b) 4-5 

c) 6-7 

d) 8-10

8. Which of the following is NOT a key characteristic of good sub-questions? 

a) Less complex than the main question 

b) Focused only on one type of research 

c) Presented in a logical order 

d) Covering a broad range of topics related to the main question

9. True or False: Framing questions describe specific aspects of a research topic. 

a) True 

b) False

10. What should you consider when deciding whether to include sub-questions in your research? 

a) The complexity of your research subject 

b) The availability of resources and time 

c) The relevance of the sub-questions to your main research question 

d) All of the above

Answers:

1. d
2. b
3. c
4. c
5. c
6. b
7. b
8. d
9. b
10. d